Egg guide: how much to cook in liquid and hard yolk, how to steam or shell | Meal

Brigita Baratinskaitė, a food production expert at the Maxima retail chain, quoted in the report to the media, admits that there is no unanimous and correct answer on how long it takes to cook an egg.

In particular, it is important that the eggs do not break when boiled, so before putting the eggs in boiling water, leave them at room temperature for a while. Otherwise, there is a sharp increase in the risk of the egg breaking due to the difference in temperature in the pot. You will slightly reduce this risk if you reduce the heat before laying eggs.

Photo by Vida Press / Boiled egg with firm yolk

If you plan to eat hard-boiled eggs, it is better to choose those whose shell is brown and has a stronger structure. For the same purpose, it is worth adding salt or vinegar to the water.

Cooking time: 4 to 12 minutes.

“After placing the eggs in boiling water, it is generally recommended to cook them for at least 4 minutes. And those who appreciate the dried yolk can leave an egg in a boiling pot for at least 12 minutes. It is worth emphasizing that if you did not follow the time, but after peeling and cutting the egg you find a surface of green yolk, it is a sign that this time you have worked and overcooked the contents of the shell ”, B.Baratinskaitė.

With this in mind, the main differences with standard boiling water can be reviewed:

• 4 min. – over time the protein hardens but the yolk remains liquid. Eggs prepared this way are perfect for spreading on toast.
• 6 min. – this cooking time gives off a liquid yolk that has already begun to soften, which may be accompanied by an even more liquid protein layer.

Photo by Vida Press / Boiled eggs with soft yolk

• 8 min. – Both hard-boiled eggs also fall into the category of soft-boiled eggs, but the edges of the yolk already have a harder consistency that helps maintain a firm shape.
• 10 minutes. – due to the mathematically attractive number of minutes, this cooking method is often recommended as the standard for a hard-boiled egg.
• 12 min. – the consistency of the yolk becomes solid, like that of proteins, but the flavor remains light and far from smelling of boiled egg. These eggs are commonly used in salads and other dishes where a sliced ​​egg is needed.

Photo by Vida Press / Salad with hard-boiled eggs

Different methods for a perfect boiled egg

Throughout their long culinary history, chefs have devised many different methods to obtain what they call a perfectly boiled egg. For example, chef Heston Blumenthal advises placing the eggs in cold water, which barely eats eggs, and as soon as the water starts to boil, move the pot aside and leave it for 6 minutes.

To make it easier to peel the eggs, cook them for 5 minutes. immerse in ice water.

“It is true that cooking simply, adding eggs to boiling water, has a clear advantage: at high temperatures, the protein membrane does not adhere as strongly to the shell wall, which makes it easier to peel the egg. still choose to start boiling the eggs in cold water, ice water will be used for a more successful peeling process, in which it is enough to immerse the hard-boiled eggs for 5 minutes ”, says B. Baratinskaitė.

And you will get the effect of a less elastic protein and less loose yolk if you cook the eggs over a light heat. Intense and slow cooking can be combined: first immerse the eggs in boiling water and stir vigorously, and after half a minute reduce the heat and thus cook the eggs for the selected time.

Vida Press nuotr./Kiaušiniai

“If you like yourself or have fans of a creamier egg texture in your family, steaming is worth a try, which is not that complicated. A pot with a special insert for steaming or a small saucepan and a steel strainer suitable to its width is enough, which could be hung over boiling water. Although this method gives the inside of the egg a silky smoothness, it will be a bit more difficult to achieve due to the more complicated peeling process, ”says the food production expert.

The result is worth it: shelled eggs

“And if you’re tired of caring for the shells and peeling them, or just want a luxurious homemade brunch with the popular Eggs Benedict, give her a chance to boil the eggs without the shells. This method of preparing eggs is a bit more complicated and requires concentration, but the result is worth it, ”says B. Baratinskaitė.

Photo by Vida Press / Boiled eggs without shell

According to her, shelled eggs are usually cooked for 2-3 minutes, unless reheating is planned; in this case, the cooking time should be slightly shortened.

• When making this type of hard-boiled egg, bring water to a boil in a large pot and minimize the heat.
• Next, place an egg in a separate metal container (or a baking pan or spoon). After doing this, add a teaspoon of apple or wine cider vinegar to the water and stir throughout the pot with a few swirling movements.
• Take a container with a liquid egg and slowly pour its contents into the water. After a few minutes, remove the cooked egg through a strainer and let it dry on kitchen paper.

According to B.Baratinskaitė, when preparing several or more shelled hard boiled eggs, it is important to maintain a fast pace and not let them cool down, because all the best properties of a shelled shelled egg are revealed while it is pleasantly warm.

Photo by Vida Press / Boiled eggs without shell with chickpea stew